“The two turtles are receiving treatment. They have wounds on their front flippers that have become infected. We will look after them until they have fully recovered,” one PMBC official, who asked not to be named, confirmed to The Phuket News.
The turtles were spotted by a guide on a Nikorn Marine Tour boat taking tourists from Koh Racha Yai to Coral Island between 3:30 and 4pm, noted in a post by avid Facebook user “Khanchit KlingKlip”, who works as a local tour guide.
“We delivered the turtles to Chalong Pier at 5pm after Nikorn Marine Tour crew found them. Then they were transferred to the PMBC. It was lucky for the turtles that they were rescued,” he said.
The survival of the young turtles comes amid grave concerns for the return of large turtle populations to the region, with tourism-driven development held to blame as the key factor in the dwindling turtle numbers around Phuket. (See story here.)